Traverse mechanism for textile machines



8, 1941. H. w. TAYLOR TRAVERSE MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed lay14, 1940 INVENTOR 17.11472: [01' ATTORNEY Patented July 8, 1941 TRAVERSEMECHANISM FOR TEXTILE MAC HINE

Howard W.'Taylor, Westerly, R. L, asslgnor to The Atwood MachineCompany, Stonington, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application May-14, 1940, Serial No. 335,071

4 Claims.

This invention relates to traverse mechanisms for textile machines andmore particularly to obtained by a face cam of multi-lobed form havingvarying heights on its lobes and engaging a projection on the adjacentface of a companion driving gear so that these axial movements of thetraverse cam are variable in extent.

Another object of the invention is to rotate the traverse cam by one ofa pair of differential gears, a projection on the face of one of thegears engaging the cam faces of a multi-lobed cam on the adjacent faceof the other gear so that the gears are alternately separated andpermitted to move toward each other while the gears are simultaneouslyrotated by a common pinion;

there being a spring normally forcing the gears toward each other butpermitting them to separate as the projection on one gear rides over thesuccessive lobes of the cam on the other gear.

With the above and other objects in view the invention includes thefeatures of construction and operation set forth in the followingspeciflcation and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing annexed hereto and forming a part of thisspecification, I have shown the invention as embodied in or applied to asilk twisting machine but it will be understood that the invention canbe otherwise embodied and that the drawing is not to be construed asdefining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended tothis specification being relied upon for that purpose.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved traverse mechanism partly insection as applied to a standard form of textile twisting machine;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the traverse mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the differential driving gears, showingthe multi-lobed cam formed on one face thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a development of the cam surfaces on the gear shown in- Fig.3.

In the above mentioned drawing there has been shown but one embodimentof the invention which is now deemed preferable, but it is to beunderstood that changes and modifications may be made within the scopeof the appended claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Briefly, and in its preferred aspect, the invention may include thefollowing principal parts: first, a traverse bar operating leverpreferably pivotally mounted at its-lower end and attached adjacent itsupper end to a traverse bar as by means of a reach arm; second, a camhaving a circumferential cam groove thereon engaging a stud outstandingfrom the operating lever, the

cam being mounted for simultaneous rotation and lateral movement; third,a pair of gears having a slightly different number of teeth; fourth, adriving pinion engaging the teeth of both gears so that these gears willbe simultaneously rotated; fifth, a plurality of cam surfaces ofdifferent height on the face of one gear adjacent the other gear; sixth,a projection on the other of said gears adapted to successively engagethe cam surfaces on said first gear during their relative rotation; andseventh, spring means normally forcing the two gears toward each other.

Referring more in detail to the figures of the drawing there is shown atill a traverse bar mounted for reciprocation and provided with yarnguides II but one of which is shown. As the traverse bar forms no partof the present invention and may be of any form further description isnot thought to be necessary. At one end the bar II has attached to it areach arm I! which in turn is attached adjustably to a traverseoperating lever l3. As shown in Fig. 1 the lever I3 is pivotally mountedat its lower end on a bracket I 4 secured rigidly to an end frame l5 ofthe textile machine to which the present invention is applied.

To oscillate the lever l3 about its pivot to reciprocate the traversebar Hi there is provided I a stud I 6 outstanding from the lever I3 andadapted to engage the peripheral groove of a traverse cam I! mounted foraxial as well as rotary movement. This cam I1 is keyedor otherwisesecured to a sleeve l8 forming the hub of a gear l9 mounted rotatablyupon an outstanding arm or shaft 20 fastened to the end frame 15 andextending horizontally therefrom. The gear I9 is rotated as by means ofa pinion 2 aacaesa 2| which may be driven by any preferred means such asa shaft 22.

Rotation of the traverse cam III by the means above described will causereciprocatory movements of the rod I ll between fixedlimits and ofexactly the same length. In building kages of some types it is desirableto vary the m and forth traverse movement of the guides ll so thatsuccessive reciprocations of the bar will vary slightly in length. Alsoit is desirable to slightly vary the limits of this reciprocatorymovement, the reversals of movement taking place at slightly differentpositions successively during a number of reciprocations. Thereafter thecycle of movement may be repeated, there being preferably a definitesequence of variable movements of the traverse bar l during which thelengths of the traverse movement'and the points of reversal of thetraverse bar are varied.

To effect this variable traverse movement extremely slow but short backand forth axial or endwise movements are imparted to the cam ll while itis being rotated at constant speed. The extent of the successive axialmovements of the cam are varied by means presently to be described andthe speed of this axial or endwise movement of the cam I1 is extremelyslow relatively to its rotary movement.

Adjacent the driving gear I9 for the cam l1 and rotatable on the shaft20 is a companion gear 23 driven by the pinion 2i simultaneously withthe gear IS. The numbers of teeth in the gears l9 and 23 are slightlydifferent so that one of these gears rotates slightly faster than theother. On the face of gear l9 adjacent the gear 23 are formed aplurality of annularly positioned cam surfaces 24 of varying height. Adevelopment of these surfaces 24 is shown in Fig. 4 by whichit height ofthe successive rises of the cam surfaces- 24 the toward and frommovements of the cam l1 relative to gear 23 vary during its rotation. In

' this manner the rod III is slowly but constantly varying the length ofits successive strokes and also its points of reversal, this variationcontinuing until the gear 23 rotates one complete revolution relative tothe gear I9. After this has taken place the rod l0 repeats itssuccessive variable movements in the same order and manner. By va' 'y ngthe relative heights of the cam surfaces .24 and the relative rotativespeeds of the gears l3 and 23, the variation in travel of the bar Illand the positions of its reversals of movement maybe varied.

I claim as my invention:

1. A traverse mechanism for textile machines comprising in combination,a traverse bar, an operating lever therefor, a cam engaging said lever,means to rotate said cam, supplementary cams of varying heights on aface of said rotating comprising a plurality of supplementary cams ofwill be seen that they are of gradually increasing a 23 rotate atslightly different speeds due to their having a different number ofteeth the projection 25 slowly rides over the successive cam rises 24 onthe face of gear l9.

Normally forcing the cam l1 and the gear 23 toward each other is aspring 26. This spring 26 may surround a rod 21 fastened upon the end ofshaft 20 and having a nut 28 threaded upon its outer end. By varying theposition of nut 23 on the rod 21 the pressure forcing the cam l1 towardthe gear 23 may be varied.

From the above it will be seen that rotation of the gears l9 and 23simultaneously but at slight different rotative speed will cause theprojection 25 to slowly ride over the cam surfaces 24 and alternatelymove the gear [9 laterally a slight distance from gear 23 and permitgear 19 to move toward gear 23. Due to the difl'erences in Yes differentheight on a face of said rotating means and means normally holding saidrotary cam and rotating means toward said projection.

3. A traverse mechanism for textile machines comprising in combination,a. traverse bar, an operating lever therefor, a cam engaging said lever,and means to simultaneously rotate and laterally move said cam, saidlast named means comprising, a plurality of supplementary cams ofdifferent height on a face of said rotating means, a projection engagingsaid supplementary cams and slowly rotated relative to said rotary cam,and means normally holding said rotary cam toward said projection.

4. A traverse mechanism for textile machines comprising in combination,a traverse bar, an operating lever therefor, a rotary cam engaging saidlever, whereby said cam reciprocates said' bar, means to rotate saidcam, supplementary cams rotating with said rotary cam for moving saidrotary cam laterally variable distances during its rotation, meansnormally forcing said rotary cam in one direction, a rotatively mountedprojection adapted to successively engage said supplemental cams, anddifferential driving means for rotating said supplementary cams andprojection.

HOWARD W. TAYLOR.

